Friday, September 30, 2016

Science, Feminism, Knowledge

Initial exploration of the STEM syllabi in this study did not reveal overt references to gender, such as through the use of gendered pronouns. However, upon deeper review, language used in the syllabi reflects institutionalized STEM teaching practices and views about knowledge that are inherently discriminatory to women and minorities by promoting a view of knowledge as static and unchanging, a view of teaching that promotes the idea of a passive student, and by promoting a chilly climate that marginalizes women.

While the Federalist takes a very dim view of her thinking, even the Federalist may need to back up and understand the big picture framework a bit.

Scientific truth IS purely material, it's objectivity is what makes it scientific. It ignores man, it asserts that it would be the same if man never existed. It is discovered, not created. It's THEORIES are created, but they are created to be TESTED and VERIFIED. It has no moral sense, "right and wrong" are merely "works or fails to work as per theory".

Theological truth is revealed. It is ultimate and is beyond the physical, but "in with and under" the physical. The partial awareness of theological truth by thought and emotion is revelation. God gives us what we need.Theological truth always requires a "leap of faith".

Philosophical truth is either derived from theology or created purely by human reason. It defines human knowing, and the relation of theology (or rejection of) is critical to that knowing. It also requires a "leap of faith" as in "I think, therefore I am" or "the universe is understandable by human senses and has an order that persists over time and space" (the basis for science).

So I actually agree with the feminist on science in a strange way. It DOES ignore women, but only in the same way it ignores all of mankind as being irrelevant to the truth of science.

Our educational system has thrown out philosophy and religion and attempted to replace them with science. Science has NOTHING to say on either topic -- it is the study of the MATERIAL, religion (other than pure idolatry) is the study of that which is NOT material, save for the incarnation of Christ, fully God and fully man.

Science is a BRANCH of philosophy, that part that deals with what is knowable about the material world and why. In a justly ordered world, Religion is the king of the university and philosophy the queen. The rest of the branches of study are their "subjects" -- subject to the order and wisdom provided by religion and philosophy, with their meaning (as opposed to their "practice" or "mechanism" drawn from the king and queen).

For a bit more detail on the purview of science and the effect that our improper usage of science has wrought, see "The Face Of God".